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Mizoram lies in the southernmost outpost
of North Eastern India, the land of the
Blue Mountains. Manipur, Assam and Tripura
bind the northern end of this little island
of tranquility with neighbouring countries
Myanmar and Bangladesh nestling most of
the state between them.
Evergreen ranges of Mizoram hills with blooms
of exotic flora and dense bamboo jungles rise
sharply from the plains of Assam in a north
south direction. These hills and plunging
gorges are criss-crossed by gushing rivers and
sparkling waterfalls. Highest among its
several peaks is the Phawngpui The Blue
Mountain.
In sharp contrast to the dense jungles and
steep hills is a rugged quilt of lush paddy
fields all the way from the center of the
state towards the Myanmar border.
Oral tradition reveals (there is no known
recorded history) that the Mizos migrated from
their homeland in China about 3 centuries ago,
in search of new pastures and settled in these
remote Mizo Hills (Lushai Hills). In the
nineteenth century this region was annexed to
Assam, under the British rule, as the Lushai
Hills District and in February 1972, it became
the 23rd state of the Indian Union.
From the 19th Century, the Christian
Missionaries have played a dominating role in
the State, 85.73% of the population are
Christians (Presbyterians, Baptists, Roman
Catholic, Salvation Army, Seventh Day
Adventists, United Pentecostal Church, and
other denominations) and are greatly
responsible for the westernization of its
social life. There has also been a concerted
effort by the young to propagate their ancient
cultural strains by clinging to their
traditional roots resulting in bringing to the
limelight some of the most vibrant ancient
Mizo traditions, cultural heritage and
colourful customs.
Mizoram is a kaleidoscopic 'pleasure trove'
for the discerning visitor with its wide array
of festivals and dances, handicrafts, flora
and fauna, breathtaking natural beauty and
temperate climate. The Mizos are friendly and
very hospitable. English is one of the
Commonly spoken languages. The joyful
enthusiasm and gregarious spirit of the local
populace has been vastly responsible for
establishing some of the most attractive
tourism features in this beautiful state.
Today, Mizoram is a dazzling mix of this
cross-cultural vibrancy with 87 percent
literacy (second highest in India- a fact in
which every Mizo takes genuine pride), gender
equality and a vigorous pursuit of its ancient
cultural traditions and social mores.
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